The husband of woman who died of cancer is suing the St. Louis hospital that allegedly misdiagnosed her disease.

Shawn Smith, as administrator of the estate of Malissa Smith, filed the lawsuit Feb. 27 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

According to the complaint, Malissa Smith and her husband first found out she had cancer in March 2008. Smith says his wife was admitted to Washington University's Barnes-Jewish Hospital in December 2008 and underwent a colonoscopy, biopsy and pathological tests. He alleges the doctors failed to further diagnose the patient's cancer and failed to properly treat the disease.

Smith accuses the hospital and the university of negligence and of violating Illinois' Wrongful Death Act. He asks for more than $300,000 in damages for medical expenses, loss of income and court fees.